Kees van Bohemen

Kees van Bohemen (The Hague 1928 - 1986) was a student at the Academie voor
Beeldende Kunsten in The Hague from 1943 to 1948. His early work was abstract,
particularly during his association with the «Nederlandse Informele Groep»
and the «Zéro» group in the period 1959-60, to which Schoonhoven
and Armando also belonged. Around 1963 he turned his attention to figurative
themes, as we can see from the larger canvases with female nudes which he painted
in 1964. His sojourn in the United States in 1966-67 gave rise to striking sporting
themes and his journey to Africa in the early 1970s yielded a series of
paintings with themes from the savannah and jungle.

His technique of painting has much in common with the Abstract Expressionism
of the 1950s, although his work shows a pronounced emphasis on the representation
of human beings. Van Bohemen has received numerous awards, including the prestigious
Jacob Marisprijs in 1966.